A report published this week claimed that Russia had asked to create a military air base in Indonesia, just 1,200 km from Darwin.
The news was initially reported by global military intelligence agency Janes, but has since been refuted by Indonesia.
Before Indonesia confirmed that the claims were false, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles scrambled for full details.
Marles confirmed with his Indonesian counterpart Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, that the claims were not true.
"He has said to me in the clearest possible terms, reports of the prospect of Russian aircraft operating from Indonesia are simply not true," Marles said in a statement.
While the military base may not be happening, strengthening military ties between Russia and Indonesia is nothing new.
In October, Moscow’s ambassador to Jakarta, Sergei Tolchenov, told Russian state-run news agency TASS that military cooperation was "integral" to the countries' relations.
"But we are working quietly in this direction. Business, diplomacy, and especially the military-technical sphere love silence,” he said.
"I am sure that there will be substantive agreements."
Tolchenov said partnerships like AUKUS and the Quad were threats to the security of the region.
"We see that our Indonesian partners accept our arguments," he said.
"Of course, there are countries in this region that are ready to do everything that NATO or the Americans tell them, but most of the ASEAN member countries, including Indonesia, are pursuing an independent policy, they absolutely do not like this NATO line, it does not suit them."
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